Prepared by Dr Rajit Yadav

Assistant Professor in English

AVDS Arts & Commerce College

Jamjodhpur

“We generate fears while we sit. We overcome them by action.”

B.Com. 3

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1. What did Phatik and his friends decide to do?

Ans: Phatik Chakravati was a typical naughty village boy about fourteen years old. He was the ring leader
of his gang. He never went to school but spent the whole day flying kites, swimming in the river and playing
mischief. He was inventive and full of ideas. One day a new mischief got into his head. There was a heavy log
lying on the mud flat of the river waiting to be shaped into to mast for a boat. Phatik and his friends decided
that they should shift the log by force from its place and roll it away. The owner of the log would be angry and
surprised and they would enjoy all the fun. Thus Phatik and his friends decided to perform a new mischief.

2. How did Makhan spoil the fun?

Phatik and his friends decided to perform a new mischief. They decided that they should shift the log by
force from its place and roll it away. The owner of the log would be angry and surprised and they would enjoy
all the fun. But the fun was spoiled before it started, as Phatik’s brother Makhan went against this plan. He
decides not to allow them to roll the log way. So he quietly sat down on the log without uttering word. This
made everybody puzzled for a moment. Phatik asked him to get up. But Makhan sat more confidently and
appeared like a young philosopher meditating. Now it was the question of Phatik’s dignity before his gang
and so he ordered the gangs to roll the log along with Makhan. As the log moved, Makhan fell into mud. So he
quarrelled with Phatik and went home crying. All in this way Makhan spoiled the fun.

3. Who arrived at Phatik’s house?

Bishambar brother of Phatik’s mother or his maternal uncle came to Phatik house. Bishambar had gone
away soon after the marriage of Phatik’s mother and his sister and he also started business at Bombay.
Bishambar now come back to Calcutta and was visiting his sister after a long period.

4. Why did Phatik go to Calcutta?

Phatik Chakravati was a typical naughty village boy about fourteen years old. He never went to school
but spent the whole day flying kites and making mischief. He was a perpetual nuisance and his widow mother
did not know how to manage him. He was lazy, disobedient and wild, so not studying properly. Once his
maternal uncle Bishambar visited his sister after a long. He volunteered to take Phatik to Calcutta where he
would be educated. Phatik’s mother readily agreed and Phatik also was excited to go. So he readily went to
Calcutta expecting a new exiting life there.

5. Why was Phatik unwelcome to his aunt?

When Phatik and his uncle reached Calcutta, Phatik made the acquaintance of his aunt for the first time.
His aunt was not all happy to see him. For her, Phatik was an unnecessary addition of her family because she
had already three children who were quite unmanageable. To bring a village boy of 14 was very much upsetting
to her. So Phatik was unwelcome to his aunt.

6. Why was Phatik unhappy in Calcutta? (March 2006)

Phatik was sent to Calcutta by his mother. She hoped that the boy would get good education and be happy
there. Phatik too expected to have an exciting life but his aunt did not show him any love. She was rude with
and found fault with him. He was despised and insulted every now and then his cousins also made fun of him.
He was the most backward boy in the whole school. He was beaten unmercifully by the teacher day after day.

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He could not make any friends. He longed for his village where he was a ring leader and where he had enjoyed
life. The house became a prison for him. He wanted to run away to his village. The whole his life was miserable
and unhappy in Calcutta.

7. What happened to Phatik at school?

Phatik was the most backward and the dullest boys in his school. He remained silent when the teacher
asked him a question, and like an ass patiently suffered all the blows that came down on his back. One day, he
lost his lesson book. It was impossible to prepare lesson without it. Day by day he was beaten unmercifully by
the teacher. His conditions became so miserable that even his cousins were ashamed of him. He was insulted
by his classmates. These all the troubled faced by Phatik when he was at school.

8. Why did Phatik run away?

Phatik was sent to Calcutta by his mother. She hoped that the boy would get good education and be happy
there. Phatik too expected to have an exciting life but his aunt did not show him any love. She was rude with
and found fault with him. He was despised and insulted every now and then his cousins also made fun of him.
His life at school was no better. He was the most backward boy in the whole school. The house became a prison
for him. The whole his life was miserable and unhappy in Calcutta. Now He longed for his village where he
was a ring leader and where he had enjoyed life. He also remembered his mother. One day he fell sick and he
feared that in such condition, he would be nuisance to his aunt. So he ran away from home.

9. The end of the story.

Phatik was very unhappy at his uncle’s house in Calcutta. He received no love and affection. His aunt
found fault with him and insulted him. Once in the state of malarial fever, He ran away from home. He was
brought back in serious condition. The boy told his uncle that he wanted to go home to his mother. His uncle
assured him that he would send him when holidays would come. In his delirium he kept on asking his uncle if
holidays had come. Finally his mother was sent for she arrived just in times to see her son die. His mother came
to see her son dying. During his illness this wild boy turned mature and understands what is home but it was
too late and he was on the verge of losing his life. Finally after watching his mother and feeling the sense of
love from her, he died. What a tragic end!

10. Character of Phatik – a short note

“The Home Coming‟ is a touching story of a boy of fourteen years. Back in village he was happy and
free. He played his boyish pranks and has the fun common to his age but life lost all its charms when he was
sent to Calcutta. Instead of love he received hate, insult and beating. This made the boy unhappy and adversely
affected his progress in school; the unloved boy fell sick and died.

According to me Phatik was relocated from village life which was full of mischief and pleasure to a life
to city where he had no one to love and give affection to him. He realized the values of home and love because
of neglect from his uncle’s family and separation from his mother.

During his illness this wild boy turned mature and understands what is home but it was too late and he was on
the verge of losing his life.

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11. Why did Gandhi begin to experiment with vegetarian diet?

Ans: The result of reading books on vegetarianism was that experiments with Gandhi’s diet began to experiment
with vegetarian diet. Reading placed an important role in his life. Health became the principal consideration of
those experiments and result was that he began to experiments with vegetarian diet.

12. At the Holborn Restaurant, how did Gandhi’s friend react when he saw Gandhi summoning the
waiter?

Ans: Gandhi had doubt at the Holborn Restaurant that might serve non vegetable soup so he wanted to know
whether they were going to serve vegetable soup. This is the reason why Gandhi had summoned the waiter of
the restaurant. Knowing this his friend asked Gandhi about the matter. Gandhi told his friend the truth about the
matter. He became angry on Gandhi and exclaimed that he was too clumsy for decent society.

13. Explain the significance of the mirror in the extract.

Ans: Gandhi tried to follow fashionable life like The English gentleman. In India, the mirror had been a luxury
permitted on the days when the family barber gave him a shave. There he wasted ten minutes every day before
a huge mirror. He watched himself and corrected his hair in fashionable way. He parted his hair in correct
fashion. His hair was not soft. He took much time to correct his hair in right position by brushing them. His
hands automatically move to his hair to adjust them in correct way.

14. What were Gandhi’s reasons for trying to learn French?

Ans: Gandhi wanted himself to be looked polished in the English society. He wanted to be the English
gentleman. He was told that it was necessary for him to take lessons in dancing, French and elocution. French
was not only the language of neighbouring France, but it was the lingua franca of the continent, over which he
had desire to travel.

15. How did Gandhi extricate himself from his elocution classes?

Ans: Gandhi thought that he had not gone there for life time in England. He thought for reasons why he was
learning elocution. He found no reasons for dancing and elocution. He thought that he was a student and came
to know that he had gone there for studying not for elocution or for any fashion. He thought for qualifying
himself in to join the Inns of Court so he left his ambition of being gentleman and extricated himself from his
elocution classes.

16. What did Gandhi ask the violin teacher to do? How did she react to his request?

Ans: Gandhi wrote a letter to violin teacher and requested her to dispose of the violin for any price it might
fetch. She was rather friendly to him so he told her how he had discovered that he was pursuing a false idea.
She encouraged him in the determination to make a complete change.

17. Describe the relationship that Gandhi and his friend share.

Ans: Gandhi shared a cordial relationship with his friend. He was very much worried about him. He thought
that Gandhi’s body would remain weak if he did not eat non-vegetarian food. Gandhiji’s excessive engagement
with reading books on vegetarianism also worried his friend. He also wanted Gandhiji to learn the manners of

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an English gentleman. For that, Gandhiji tried a lot to learn other things. At one time, Gandhiji’s friend showed
his anger at him. But that was for the time being. Gandhiji’s relation with his friend was always cordial.

18. How did Gandhi attempt to become a proper English gentleman?

Ans: Gandhi might be feeling insecure within himself. He was unable to accept who he was and as such decided
to change his very fabric in order to fit in with his peers. In reality it was up to others to accept Gandhi as he
was and not the other way around. Gandhi’s peers had an obligation to accept him as he was. Though this might
not necessarily be how matters were perceived by others. Many might believe that in order to be accepted as a
peer, which Gandhi wanted to be, one must change their life to how the majority lived theirs. The insecurity
that Gandhi might feel as a student is not to be confused with a deeper insecurity often found and developed in
a person since youth. Gandhi simply wanted to fit in while living in England. It did not appear as though he was
intent on living his life while back in India as an Englishman.

Gandhiji had a strong desire to make himself a perfect English gentleman. So he started taking lessons
in dancing, learning French and elocution (pronunciation/diction). He also tried to learn how to play upon violin.
He paid money for those lessons. But he gave up all those efforts.

19.How does vegetarianism influence Gandhi’s life in England?

Ans: Gandhiji was a strict vegetarian. He read several books on vegetarianism. He learnt that all philosophers
and prophets from Pythagoras and Jesus and even in the present age were vegetarians. Religion also played
important role in Gandhiji’s faith in vegetarianism.

Gandhiji read Salt’s book on diets rekindled his desire to read more about dietetic studies. Later, he
read William’s ‘The Ethics of Diet’. This seminal book details the many works related to human diets from the
earliest period to today. It emerged from the book that iconic intellectuals like Pythagoras and Jesus were both
vegetarians. Gandhiji was also profoundly influenced by Dr. Anna Kingsford, and Dr. Allinson. Slowly but
steadily Gandhiji became an avowed vegetarian.

20. What is the turning point in the extract? What makes Gandhi abandon his many endeavours to fit in
with polished society in England?

Ans: There is a sense that Gandhi while a student in England wishes to fit in with his peers even though he may
live a lifestyle that would be deemed unfamiliar to an English gentleman being a vegetarian for example.
Regardless of this Gandhi does go some way in order to give off the appearance of an English gentleman. Going
as far as getting dancing lessons, changing his attire, learning the violin and getting elocution lessons.

All of which Gandhi hopes will help him to fit in with his surroundings and be accepted by others.
However there does come a point when Gandhi realises that he is living a lie and that he is not only fooling
himself but also denying his tradition or the fact that he is an Indian and not an Englishman.

Gandhi may be feeling insecure within himself. He is unable to accept who he is and as such decides to
change his very fabric in order to fit in with his peers. In reality it is up to others to accept Gandhi as he is and
not the other way around. Gandhi’s peers have an obligation to accept him as he is. Though this may not
necessarily be how matters are perceived by others. Many might believe that in order to be accepted as a peer,
which Gandhi wants to be, one must change their life to how the majority live theirs. The insecurity that Gandhi
may feel as a student is not to be confused with a deeper insecurity often found and developed in a person since

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youth. Gandhi simply wants to fit in while living in England. It doesn’t appear as though he is intent on living
his life while back in India as an Englishman. Though some critics might think differently suggesting that
Gandhi’s insecurities are deeply rooted and he is embarrassed by his appearance when compared to the average
Englishman. If this is the case then the fact that Gandhi decides against change suggests that he realises he is
attempting to be something he is not. And as such Gandhi is comfortable with his identity.

21. How did Ratan Tata turn around the sick companies he was given charge of?

Ans: Ratan Tata was given charge of two sick companies in the Tata group. Nelco and Central India Textiles.
It was a difficult experience for him however; he managed a turnaround in both companies within a few years.
This experience strengthened him immensely, and he was now ready to take on larger responsibilities. He had
also left an enduring mark on seniors in Tata’s Management Team.

22. Describe some of the acquisitions that were made by Ratan Tata?

Ans: Ratan Tata sensed the consumer revolution. His task was to convert the Tata group into a highly
competitive and diversified group of companies. He thought out a process, calling it the 1983 Tata Strategic
Plan. He diversified into contemporary industries like telecommunication, software, biotechnology, etc. Tata
Tea acquired Tetley, Tata Motors acquired Jaguar Land Rover and Tata Steel acquired Corus, all of which
turned Tata from a largely India-centric company into a global business.

23. What were the initial responses to Ratan Tata when he took charge of the Tata Group?

Ans: Ratan Tata began his career in the Tata Group in1962. He initially worked on the shop floor of Tata Steel,
shovelling limestone and handling the blast furnace. He was criticized for lacking experience in running a
company at the scale of Tata Industries. He created an intense culture of competitiveness within the Tata Group,
slowly the laidback attitude of the employees and Management changed.

24. What were the key features of Ratan Tata’s leadership style?

Ans: He believes in innovative techniques. He took every difficulty positively. He diversified generic business.
He had sense of the consumer. He believed in strategic plan. He took responsibilities sincerely. He gave
importance customers’ value. He was a visionary person.

25. Based on his comments, what do you think his experience in school was like?

Ans: Based on his comments when he said ‘One thing I have never recovered from is a fear of public speaking.’
It means that he did not participate in reading out sermons publicly at assembly and also in debates. He thought
that it was his mistakes when he was in school. He did not do extracurricular activities. He missed that culture
of cathedral. His mathematics teacher believed that he would never complete school.

26. Write your assessment of Ratan Tata’s achievements and his contribution to Indian Industry.

Ans: After the retirement of J.R.D. Tata, he became the new Chairman of the Tata Group. Under his leadership,
the organization achieved new heights and generated large amount of overseas revenues. He was instrumental
in the acquisition of Tetley, Jaguar Land Rover and Corus, which turned Tata from a major India-Centric
company to a global brand name.

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 Apart from expanding his multinational, he has also served in various capacities in organizations in India
and abroad. He is also a leading philanthropist and more than half of his share in the group is invested in
charitable trusts. Through his pioneering ideas and positive outlook, he continues to serve as a guiding force for
his conglomerate even after retirement.

27. Briefly describe the various companies under the umbrella of Tata Sons.

Ans: Ratan Tata is one of the leading Indian industrialists, ex- Chairman of the largest Indian conglomerate,
Tata Group of Companies. He currently holds the post of Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons, the holding company
of the Tata Group which controls some of the major companies including Tata Steel, Tata Motors, Tata Power,
Tata Consultancy Services, Indian Hotels and Tata Teleservices. Brought up by his grandmother from the age
of ten when his parents separated, he became actively involved in the family business after completing his
graduation. He started as a fellow worker on the shop floor at Tata Steel and gained an insight about his family
business.

After the retirement of J.R.D. Tata, he became the new Chairman of the Tata Group. Under his
leadership, the organization achieved new heights and generated large amount of overseas revenues. He was
instrumental in the acquisition of Tetley, Jaguar Land Rover and Corus, which turned Tata from a major India-
Centric company to a global brand name.

28. ‘Ratan sensed the consumer revolution.’ How did he turn his vision into profitable business?

Ans: He believes in innovative techniques. He took every difficulty positively. He diversified generic business.
He had sense of the consumer. He believed in strategic plan. He took responsibilities sincerely. He gave
importance customers’ value. He was a visionary person.

Ratan Tata is one of the leading Indian industrialists, ex- Chairman of the largest Indian conglomerate,
Tata Group of Companies. He currently holds the post of Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons, the holding company
of the Tata Group which controls some of the major companies including Tata Steel, Tata Motors, Tata Power,
Tata Consultancy Services, Indian Hotels and Tata Teleservices. Brought up by his grandmother from the age
of ten when his parents separated, he became actively involved in the family business after completing his
graduation. He started as a fellow worker on the shop floor at Tata Steel and gained an insight about his family
business.

After the retirement of J.R.D. Tata, he became the new Chairman of the Tata Group. Under his
leadership, the organization achieved new heights and generated large amount of overseas revenues. He was
instrumental in the acquisition of Tetley, Jaguar Land Rover and Corus, which turned Tata from a major India-
Centric company to a global brand name.

29. Provide a character sketch of Ratan Tata. Keep in mind his comments about his ‘dream India.’

Ans: Ratan Tata said that he had no personal icons today, a person credo that he persistently returned to was the
need for a level playing field. He said that his dream India is where every Indian has an equal opportunity to
shine on merit. In country like India he has given beautiful example.

Ratan Tata is one of the leading Indian industrialists, ex- Chairman of the largest Indian conglomerate,
Tata Group of Companies. He currently holds the post of Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons, the holding company
of the Tata Group which controls some of the major companies including Tata Steel, Tata Motors, Tata Power,

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Tata Consultancy Services, Indian Hotels and Tata Teleservices. Brought up by his grandmother from the age
of ten when his parents separated, he became actively involved in the family business after completing his
graduation. He started as a fellow worker on the shop floor at Tata Steel and gained an insight about his family
business.

After the retirement of J.R.D. Tata, he became the new Chairman of the Tata Group. Under his
leadership, the organization achieved new heights and generated large amount of overseas revenues. He was
instrumental in the acquisition of Tetley, Jaguar Land Rover and Corus, which turned Tata from a major India-
Centric company to a global brand name.

30. Describe some of the major challenges Ratan Tata faced during his career.

Ans: While his tenure as chairman was stellar and the group grew significantly under his leadership, it's not as
if he didn't face any challenge. From launching the first indigenous car to iconic deals such as the Jaguar Land
Rover acquisition in 2008, Tata went through several hoops for the success of the company and country.

Ratan Tata was given charge of two sick companies in the Tata group. Nelco and Central India Textiles.
It was a difficult experience for him however; he managed a turnaround in both companies within a few years.
This experience strengthened him immensely, and he was now ready to take on larger responsibilities. He had
also left an enduring mark on seniors in Tata’s Management Team.

His dream of Tata Nano also collapsed. It was for common men. His Tata Indica car could not succeed.
But he never got disappointed. He worked hard and took everything positively and became a good, benevolent
and philanthropist. Tata recalled how empathy played a key role in 2008 when Tata Motors acquired Jaguar
Land Rover.

31. What kind of a company is PepsiCo? What does it deal with?

Ans: PepsiCo is an American multinational food, snack and beverage corporation headquartered in Harrison,
New York, in the hamlet of Purchase. PepsiCo has interests in the manufacturing, marketing, and distribution
of grain-based snack foods, beverages, and other products.

32. What vital changes did Indra Nooyi bring to PepsiCo?

Ans: To achieve this level of financial success, a number of large strategic changes had to be made. Here is what
Nooyi changed about the company’s strategy in the last 12 years. She has directed the company’s global strategy
for over a decade and was the primary architect of its restructuring including the divestiture of its restaurants
into the successful yum. Brands, inc, the spin off and public offering of company owned bottling operations
into anchor bottler Pepsi Bottling Group, acquiring Tropicana, and the merger with Quaker Oats that brought
the vital Quaker and Gatorade business to PepsiCo. She was praised for it.

33. What were the three rules Nooyi followed to rise to the top of the PepsiCo ladder?

Ans: The first rule of Nooyi’s was being the pulses of strong family ties. She consisted and co-opted the entire
ecosystem around her. She never went home before answering emails. The punishing output helped her to get
top. She had closed loop system to keep her abreast of what’s going on at home.

34. How has the story of Nooyi’s development been an example of success as a result of hitching
one’s wagon to star?

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Ans: Her success story is one of the sheer hard works, dedication, working with a close bond with others in the
company and maintaining one’s equipoise and balance despite all difficulties. She has become a role model for
many in the world who are determined to leave an impression in the world of finance and business.

35. What is Nooyi’s attitude towards her own rise in the company?

Ans: There are many interesting aspects of Indra Nooyi’s successful journey to the top of a prominent global
corporation. She was good at handling personal and professional responsibilities.

Her success story is one of the sheer hard works, dedication, working with a close bond with others in
the company and maintaining one’s equipoise and balance despite all difficulties. She has become a role model
for many in the world who are determined to leave an impression in the world of finance and business.

36. Explain how Indra Nooyi spearheaded vital and dramatic changes to the policies of the company she
heads.

Ans: Her policies were super efficient that made many companies become tycoons. She has thoroughly
explained his terms and conditions in his essay called a corporate giant.

She gave a facelift to PepsiCo soon after becoming CEO. She implemented drastic changes in company’s
policies and strategies. To achieve this level of financial success, a number of large strategic changes had to be
made. Here is what Nooyi changed about the company’s strategy in the last 12 years. She has directed the
company’s global strategy for over a decade and was the primary architect of its restructuring including the
divestiture of its restaurants into the successful yum. Brands, inc, the spin off and public offering of company
owned bottling operations into anchor bottler Pepsi Bottling Group, acquiring Tropicana, and the merger with
Quaker Oats that brought the vital Quaker and Gatorade business to PepsiCo. She was praised for it.

37. Describe the chief principles and guidelines that have helped Nooyi achieve her ambitions.

Ans: Indra Nooyi's chief principles and guidelines that helped her achieve her ambitions were -to be strong and
never give up on the dreams one has dreamt, to always show gratitude towards people, to think from the point
of view of the customer, to develop a basic skill that would help one lead a descent life and to think big as if
one was the president. She has always wanted to create a world with a difference. For her health has been a vital
issue.

Keeping her customers healthy was her primary aim that served as her guideline in being the top decision
maker of PepsiCo. She introduced the three categories in the food products of the company which earlier was
infamous for its junk foods. She has not deviated from her principle of building stronger women. She has striven
to develop a line of snacks marketed specifically for women.

38. Discuss how the company’s support system helped Nooyi to maintain a balance between her personal
and professional life?

Ans: - Indra Nooyi hired nannies and had a helpful family support system. She had good relations with her
senior and junior employees. This good term relation resulted that receptionist answered her nine years baby on
telephone while coming to office on the way. Her company’s founder chief did her baby’s homework in the
offices of other executives. The entire senior team supported a hand with others’ children when the need arose.
These are the reasons why she balanced her professional and private responsibilities well.

39. Give a summary of the attitude of the company and ex-CEO of the company to Nooyi and her abilities.

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Ans: The essence of Reinemund’s remarks was that it great and proud moment for company in choosing her as
its CEO. She was chose because of her talent and abilities. It was proved that company did not break its unbroken
tradition of selecting strong CEO like Nooyi. She had a great rank of leadership. She was qualified leader. He
was sure that company’s future was in safe hand. She would achieve success in future.

40. Do you think Indra Nooyi is a role model for people who want to enter the world of finance? Give
reasons for your answer.

Ans: In her role as CEO for PepsiCo, Indra Nooyi was an invaluable role model for women in business. She
pushed the public to have an honest conversation about the difficult choices many women face in the pursuit of
ambitious roles in business and the constant tradeoffs between work and family.

In 2006, when Indra Nooyi took over as the CEO of PepsiCo, she shattered the glass ceiling for immigrants
and women, becoming one of the world’s most powerful corporate executives heading a business with billion-
plus dollar revenue. At that time, Nooyi was one of fewer than a dozen women at the helm of America’s 500
largest companies. Under her stewardship, PepsiCo navigated an economic recession, withstood challenges from
activist investors, and increased public and policy awareness on issues such as obesity and environmental
protection.

Nooyi is famous for saying that a woman cannot have it all, meaning women have to sacrifice personal
life for achieving professional success. This would remain the case, so long as stereotypes of men’s and women’s
roles within the family remain intact. Women do far more of housework, looking after children and aged relatives
than men do. If men could bring themselves to take on half the load of such work, we could see more Nooyi’s
rise.

41. Describe the setting of the poem ‘The Village School Master’.

Ans42. Why did the children laugh with ‘counterfeited glee’ at the school master’s jokes? Ans: The
undisciplined and idle students laughed with counterfeited glee. This is because the master used to tell many
jokes and even if the students did not feel like laughing at those jokes yet they pretended to be happy or merry
to impress their teacher.

42. What was the villagers’ opinion of the school master? Why?

Ans: The villagers’ opinions of the school master were that he had knowledge. They wondered how he could
read, write, calculate, measure tides and at the same time be so skilled in arguing. They would wonder how his
small head could hold so much of knowledge.

43. Explain the meaning of the lines: ‘But past is all his fame, The very spot/Where many a time he
triumph’d is forgot.’
Ans: In these lines the poet fondly remembers the glories of the village school master and tells that the school
master does not teach any more but all that is left in that spot is the past fame of the man.

44. Describe the schoolmaster.

Ans: The village school master runs his little school in a small village. The poem starts with a description
of the location of the school. The school is situated next to an irregular fence which is dilapidated and also

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leaning over. The road leading towards the school is lined with flowers, which are not being admired or
appreciated by the people. The school is mentioned as a ‘noisy mansion’ following the rules of the school
master. The village teacher is equipped to manage a class and teaches his lessons there. He is a very strict
disciplinarian and also a stern person to observe. The speaker says that he and all other truants know him well
because they have undergone the master’s rage. The students have learnt to sense the mood of the teacher by
observing his face. The day’s trouble is noticed from his forehead.
The school master is a contradiction. Although he is strict, he is kind and good-humoured. He tells many
jokes. Whenever he tells some jokes, the children laugh with pretended joy. If they notice any sign of anger on
his face they will spread the news throughout the classroom. But basically the schoolmaster is a kind man. If at
all he has any fault, it is because of his intense love for learning.
The schoolmaster is admired and respected by the villagers. Everyone in the village praise him for his
great knowledge. He can write, do mathematics, and predict weather patterns and tides. It is also assumed that
he can do accurate survey and determine borders easily. He can also debate intelligently and have discussions
with the village parson, a person who was greatly respected by his parishioners. The master uses difficult words
and emotional language to convince and impress the poorly educated village people. The parson also accepts
the master’s skill in debate. Sometimes even after being defeated in arguments, the schoolmaster continue to
speak. The village people wonder how his small head could contain so much knowledge.
45. The poet viewed the school master as a big fish in a small pond. Do you agree or disagree?

Ans: In one sense, of course, Goldsmith is gently mocking the schoolmaster: he’s a big fish in a small pond –
it’s very easy for him to impress the villagers with his learning, just because he can read a bit of Latin and knows
how to do his sums. The parson, as the religious leader of the village, is of course the most respected man, but
the schoolmaster loves a good argument with him, and keeps arguing even when he’s obviously lost.

46. How has humour been used in the poem to enrich the portrayal of the schoolmaster?

Ans: The poet Oliver Goldsmith gives a humorous study of the school master’s character but never loses his
sympathy for him. He makes an analysis of the qualities and capabilities of the school master. He was a staunch
disciplinarian who took his students to task if they played truant. The poet, as a student, was very aware of this
aspect of the school master but he appreciated his stand and came to love and respect him. The severe measures
taken by the master had a soft and pious motive behind them as he wanted to see his pupils ‘turn into learned
people’. The school master’s character is portrayed with many p He is severe in manner but at the same time is
jovial with a stock of seasoned jokes. He is supposed to be a great scholar though he can only read, write and
solve simple sums of arithmetic. He is stem and yet kind. The school master is acknowledged as a great erudite
person by the entire village and even the parson recognizes his skill in debate.

The rhetoric of the teacher leaves the rustics gazing in admiration. The poem ends on a note of humour.
The teacher is not to be taken as a mere satirical sketch. Apart from his scholarly pretensions, he has been a
remarkably kind and benevolent gentleman. The frown on his face often hides a heart overflowing with love
and sympathy. He has a smattering of useful information which he puts to good use with the illiterate and
ignorant villagers. Thus he projects a larger-than-life image of himself before them. He has an opinion on every
issue and loves to engage in debates particularly with the village priest. He knows that in the eyes of the villagers
the outcome of the debate depends more on sound than on sense.

47. What does ‘losing theirs’ imply?

11
Ans: The word theirs, then, means their heads, and the pronoun it is a substitute for the phrase "having lost their
heads." Kipling is saying it is good to remain calm even when people are blaming their panic on you. His
psychological insight into human behaviour is quite perceptive.

48. Who is the speaker? Who is the speaker addressing?

Ans: The speaker is the poet Rudyard Kipling himself and it is addressed to his son John.

49. What, according to the speaker, will his son become if he is able to fulfil all his requirements?

Ans: If speaker’s son follows according to the speaker’s instructions. he can, at the same time, uphold his virtue.
The poet tells him to walk with the Kings without lacking the human touch. Both men ought to be able to rely
on his assistance. Without any pause, he should forgive persons. If he can do all these things, so the world, and
all that is therein, will be his own.

50. Why do you think the poet had the words “Triumph’, ‘Disaster’ and ‘will’ each begin with a capital
letter?

Ans: The words ‘Triumph’ and ‘Disaster’ are given capital letters which suggests that they are names. They are
also referred to as being ‘imposters’. Kipling’s speaker personifies triumph and disaster. He calls them imposters
as both of these events don’t last long. The small triumphs of life indeed taste sweet. But, staying in the
hallucination of victory is an addiction and enslavement. When disaster or failure comes, the mind remains in
such a state that it becomes tough to face it. Interestingly, defeat doesn’t last for a long time too. That’s why
both triumph and disaster are traps in themselves.

51. How does repetition enhance the overall quality and feeling of the poem ‘If’?

Ans: Repetition, as a literary device, functions as a means of reinforcing a concept, thought, or idea for a reader
by repeating certain words or phrases. Writers that utilize repetition call attention to what is being repeated.
This can generate greater focus on a particular subject and intensify its meaning.

52. Explain what gives ‘If’ poem its universal appeal?

Ans: It is likely that Kipling composed these encouraging words of wisdom for his son but the messages they
convey to do with courage, humility and perseverance clearly have universal appeal.

53. What does the poem ‘If’ reveal about the speaker’s character?
Ans: Rudyard Kipling's poem "If—" contains a thoughtful message about how to live a successful, principled,
and happy life despite the challenges that one will inevitably face. The poem emphasizes trusting oneself, being
level-headed and patient, being honest and associating oneself with honest people, and working hard without
showing off.
The poet tells his son that he should keep calm and patient when others do fail and put the blames on
him. He should trust himself when all others doubt him. However, he should also make a room for their doubts
and try understanding what made them doubt him. He poet says that he should dream big but
never make the dreams his master. Similarly, he should think good about goals, future, etc but never make
thoughts his aim because in order to succeed in life one has to work hard.
Mere dreaming and thinking will never lead one to the path of success. Hence one should dream of goals
and think of a better future and at the same time should work hard to achieve them. The poet says that one

12
should make one heap of all the achievements one has made and then take big risks. In other words, one should
never be afraid of doing things that can either make one successful or ruin everything.

If one fails after taking big risks, he should start again from the beginning without thinking or saying
anything about the loss to others. One should try again and again until one succeeds The poet says that while
among the common people one must keep his virtues and never behave like them while among the kings means
big personalities one should never have pride and ego. In other words, the poet is saying that when one is poor,
he should keep his virtues and when he becomes rich, he should never ego.

54. How has the poet used animals to establish atmosphere?

Ans: The poet has used the simile of a brooding dog to show her inability to pay a visit to her grandmother's
house. She has employed suggestive visual imagery of 'blind eyes of the windows' and 'the frozen air to convey
the idea of death and desperation. Snakes moved among the books. It indicates to silence.

55. Describe the tone of the poem.

Ans: The poet is in a nostalgic state and says that there is a house that is far from her present house. In that
house, she once “received love”. The woman who loved the poet died. That woman is her grandmother and the
house the poet is referring to is her grandmother’s house. This could be assumed as it is mentioned in the title
of the poem.

Another autobiographical element can also be found in the use of the pronoun “I”, which suggests that
the poet is talking about herself. Therefore Kamala Das is the speaker in the poem. Das’s grandmother was a
sweet woman from whom Das received warmth and care. The use of ellipsis, for instance, “There is a house
now far away from where once/ I received love…….”, and “Can you, that I lived in such a house and/ Was
proud, and loved….”, in the poem suggests the immense love and care she has got in the house.

Therefore the house represents the source of love and happiness for the poet. But the house has become
desolate after the death of her grandmother. A house cannot withdraw into silence. Here the poet uses
personification. The use of personification suggests that the house also grieves over the death of the old woman.
That is why the house lapsed into silence. After the death, none lives there in the house except pin-drop silence.
Snakes move among books in the house. This image of “snakes moving among books” conveys the idea that
the eerie feeling about the house.

Das was young to read the books and her grandmother’s death made her depressed. Her blood turns
cold “like the moon”. Here the poet uses a simile to convey the coldness of blood with the moon.

56. Examine theme of the death in ‘My Grandmother’s House’.

Ans: The basic theme is that of lost love, with the speaker bemoaning the fact that once she lived in a house
where she was loved, but now her circumstances mean that she has no love in her life. The house represents the
feeling of love which the speaker could get from her grandmother. But, now the house is silent. The poem moves
through the happy past and sad present. The poet uses the image of snakes moving among the books now for
which she was too younger in her childhood.

In the poem 'My Grandmother's House' by Kamla Das, the house withdrew into silence after the
grandmother died. The house became infested with snakes that moved among the books.

57. Compare and contrast the speaker as a child as a child with the speaker as an adult.

13
Ans: "My Grandmother's House" is a short poem from Kamala Das which focuses on love lost, nostalgia and
emotional pain. Basically, the speaker is looking back to a time as a child when she could enjoy love in a
comfortable and contented household. She contrasts this blissful existence with that of her current situation,
which is loveless and dire.

This juxtaposition of then and now, past and present, creates the tension within this single-stanza poem
and gives the reader a stark picture of how circumstances have altered for the speaker. There is also the idea
that the speaker is trying to make someone see just how low she has gotten—how desperate she feels in her
current situation. That someone may be her partner, husband, or spouse, or it could be a close friend.

58. Examine the theme of love in this poem. How do the notions of discontent and disillusionment connect
with this predominant theme?

Ans: Kamala Das was one of the bold contemporary Indian women writers. She has made vast contribution for
the growth of Indian poetry in English. She has authored many autobiographical works and novel, several well-
received collections of poetry in English, numerous volumes of short stories. She was one of the first Indian
writers to explore sexual themes in her work. She has written many collections of poems such as “summer in
Calcutta”, “The Old Playhouse and Other Poems”, “The Descendants”, Etc. through her poems she has tried
to emphasize the feminine identity and personal identity in a male dominated society. Her poems are revolt, and
the revolt is the outcome of all her dissatisfaction and psychological traumas. The major theme of most of her
poems is the quest for love and her failure to find fulfilment of love in life.

Kamala Das is a confessional poet who displays feminist ethos in her poems. Her poems are the outcome
of her intensely felt personal experience which she expresses honestly and with great conviction. According to
Kamala Das, childhood and memory are the chief source of her poetry. She has often compared with such
modern confessional poets as Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton. Das speaks of her failure in love or need for love.
She expresses her experiences and passions with an openness and frankness unusual in the Indian context.

The note of profound anguish in Das’s poetry issues from her experience of alienation from early
childhood. Her autobiography My Story reveals that she is alienated from her father of patriarchy and from her
mother who always lies on bed and writes poems. The parents did not spend time with them. She experiences
alienation from teachers and classmates in school. She depicts herself and her brother as children of loveless
parents in her autobiography. This painful sense of alienation makes her write sad poems at very young age
about dolls and their lost heads.

59. What does the house represent analyze how the practice of the house changes in the mind of the poet
after the death of her grandmother?

Ans: The poem describes the speaker’s happy life before her grandmother’s death and sad life after her
grandmother’s death. The speaker of the poem is a married woman. She is reminded of her parental home which
is the symbol of immense love. The poem describes the clear difference between past and present. In past, the
life was full of activity whereas now it has turned into deadly silence. The intensity of sadness is expressed by
dark and negative imagery.
The poem starts with the reference of a grandmother as ‘that woman’ which is particular and who is no
more now. The house is now far away and the past happy condition is irretrievable. The house represents the
feeling of love which the speaker could get from her grandmother. But, now the house is silent. The poem moves
through the happy past and sad present.

The poet uses the image of snakes moving among the books now for which she was too younger in her
childhood. Now very often she thinks to revisit the house but now it is very difficult now to peep through the

14
blind windows. Here, the image of blind windows may represent the eyes which are now visionless. The air is
frozen and now she wants to bring the handful of darkness.

The poet uses the simile where she compares herself with the brooding dog who is helpless. The sudden
reference to the reader as a ‘darling’ is striking. The speaker again mentions the love which she once received
but now her condition is like a beggar asking the change of love. The poet in intense terms expresses the sadness.
The use of language represents the strangeness and unhealthy relationship between people and this woman.
Note the words- House, that woman, asking love as a change.
Grammar Section
Prepositions

A preposition is a word that shows the spatial (space), temporal (time), or logical relationship of its object to
the rest of the sentence. The words above, near, at, by, after, with and from are Prepositions

around between
above
When something is
Above means over When something is behind
around something, When you are behind between, it is
or higher. The cloud in
it is near or close something, you are to located in a
is above the The bird is in the
to it. the back of it. position separating
mountain. cage.
two other items.

in front of out outside

The girl on the right inside He is going out the When you are
on
is in front of the The bird is inside The vase is on the table. door. outside, you are not
bricks. the cage. in a building or other
structure.

with
With means. in the
over under company of or having.
The cloud is over the The cat is under The children above are
mountain. the table. with each other.

Simple Preposition Examples

• At, by, for, from, in, of, off, on, out, through, till, to, up, with

Compound Prepositions List

About, above, across, along, amidst, among, around, before, behind, below, beneath, beside, between, beyond,
inside, outside, underneath, within, without

15
Phrase Preposition Example

according to in comparison to in place of

along with in consequence of in reference to
away from in course of in regard to
because of in favour of in spite of
by means of in front of instead of
by virtue of in lieu of on account of
for the sake of in case of with an eye to
in accordance with in order to with reference to
in addition to owing to with regard to
in (on) behalf of with a view to

Phrase Preposition Usage

on day (on Monday) during the holidays

on Date (on 10th August 2006) in the morning
in Year (in 2002) in the afternoon of 10 April 2006
in Month (in March) on TV
at time (at 10 pm) on/over the phone
for a period of time (for 5 years) on page
since the point of time (since 2 o’clock) in the office/school
in the afternoon in the bus/train/plane
in the evening by car/bus/train/air/ship/taxi
at night on foot (walking)
in summer at work
on leave at the meeting/party

Fill in the blanks with appropriate prepositions using the given alternatives.

Question 1.
Peter is playing tennis …………. Sunday.
Answer:
on

Question 2.
My brother’s birthday is …………. the 5th of September.
Answer:
on

Question 3.
My friend has been living in Canada …………. two years.
Answer:
for

16
Question 4.
The son and the daughter are sitting …………. each other.
Answer:
beside

Question 5.
The woman is looking …………. her daughter.
Answer:
at

Question 6.
What are you doing …………. Saturday?
Answer:
on

Question 7.
I haven’t been to the countryside …………. December.
Answer:
since

Question 8.
I am …………. leaving the afternoon.
Answer:
in

B. Fill in the blanks using suitable prepositions.

Question 1.
The people are busy …………. some important work.
Answer:
with

Question 2.
The girl was eager …………. show her painting.
Answer:
to

Question 3.
He dreamt …………. being a king.
Answer:
of

Question 4.
I write letters …………. my parents regularly.
Answer:
to

Question 5.
Look after the children …………. a while.
Answer:
for

17
Question 6.
He takes a lot …………. interest in music.
Answer:
of

Question 7.
Put this …………. place of that.
Answer:
in

Question 8.
I learnt about it …………. my friend.
Answer:
from

C. Fill in the blanks using suitable prepositions.

Question 1.
Rita heard …………. her success.
Answer:
about

Question 2.
She came …………. time.
Answer:
on

Question 3.
He had no money …………. give you.
Answer:
to

Question 4.
Walk carefully …………. avoid falling.
Answer:
to

Question 5.
The author …………. Saket was very religious minded.
Answer:
of

Question 6.
I go …………. bed at night.
Answer:
to

Question 7.
The thief climbed …………. the roof.
Answer:
upon

18
Question 8.
He is dedicated …………. his work.
Answer:
to

D. Fill in the blanks using suitable prepositions.

Question 1.
Does this book belong …………. you?
Answer:
to

Question 2.
I saw him felling a big tree …………. an axe.
Answer:
with

Question 3.
These people are always quarrelling …………. themselves.
Answer:
among

Question 4.
Himani borrowed a pen …………. use.
Answer:
to

Question 5.
I met him …………. Alipur.
Answer:
at

Question 6.
I have been waiting here …………. 6 o’clock.
Answer:
since

Question 7
………….. the last ten years, he had done all the good.
Answer:
In

Question 8.
The situation has grown …………. a big menace.
Answer:
into

E. Fill in the blanks using suitable prepositions.

Question 1.
Nobody cares …………. a weak, old man.

19
Answer:
for

Question 2.
Shobha burst …………. tears.
Answer:
into

Question 3.
Mohan was charged …………. the murder of Rajan.
Answer:
with

Question 4.
The boys are confident …………. a huge victory.
Answer:
of

Question 5.
I saw the monkey charge …………. the house.
Answer:
into

Question 6.
Let us divide the money …………. ourselves.
Answer:
among

Question 7.
I am worried …………. her.
Answer:
about

Question 8.
She is busy …………. her work.
Answer:
with

F. Fill in the blanks using suitable prepositions.

Question 1.
She is doing a degree course …………. a university.
Answer:
from

Question 2.
His trousers were washed …………. the washing machine.
Answer:
in

20
Question 3.
We had to climb slowly …………. the hill.
Answer:
up

Question 4.
His house looks …………. a temple.
Answer:
like

Question 5.
How many …………. your group will join the trip?
Answer:
of

Question 6.
Don’t lean the ladder …………. the wall.
Answer:
against

Question 7.
He stood …………. me firmly.
Answer:
before

Question 8.
She yelled …………. me.
Answer:
at

G. Fill in the blanks using suitable prepositions.

Question 1.
Don’t clap …………. I finish talking.
Answer:
until

Question 2.
Children always quarrel …………. toys.
Answer:
over

Question 3.
She has applied …………. a job.
Answer:
for

Question 4.
She came …………. a week.
Answer:
for

21
Question 5.
I was invited …………. dinner.
Answer:
for

Question 6.
I am satisfied …………. your work.
Answer:
with

Question 7.
He resorted …………. thievery.
Answer:
to

Question 8.
Sarla has been called …………. an interview.
Answer:
for

H. Fill in the blanks with appropriate words.

Question 1.
The teacher spoke …………. for Raju when he was wrongly accused of stealing money.
Answer:
up

Question 2.
We can visit her in the hotel …………. 3 pm and 5
Answer:
between

Question 3.
The Suhas have lived in New Delhi …………. 1943.
Answer:
since

Question 4.
Little children are often afraid …………. the dark.
Answer:
of

Question 5.
Sneha has applied …………. a scholarship.
Answer:
for

Question 6.
It took Ahmed many months to get …………. the loss of his friends.
Answer:
over

22
Question 7.
She turned …………. the generous offer made by the manager.
Answer:
down

Question 8.
We were asked to take …………. our footwear as we were entering a place of worship.
Answer:
off

I. Fill in the blanks with appropriate words.

Question 1.
She takes a lot of trouble …………. her work.
Answer:
for

Question 2.
Our English friends have taken …………. Indian food quite quickly.
Answer:
to

Question 3.
He secured grade ‘A’ …………. the Mathematics test.
Answer:
in

Question 4.
He jumped …………. the river to save his friend from drowning.
Answer:
into

Question 5.
Always be prepared …………. a surprise test.
Answer:
for

Question 6.
She hid …………. the cupboard and gave everyone a fright.
Answer:
inside

Question 7.
She is fond …………. pets.
Answer:
of

Question 8.
The brothers quarelled …………. themselves for their father’s property.
Answer:
among

23
J. Fill in the blanks with appropriate words.
Question 1.
He was touched …………. pity when he heard the tale.
Answer:
with

Question 2.
There is always a demand …………. good tailors.
Answer:
for

Question 3.
The mother prevented her child …………. going out in the farm.
Answer:
from

Question 4.
The baby crawled …………. the table and hid there.
Answer:
under

Question 5.
Once upon a time the great king ruled …………. all these villages and towns.
Answer:
over

Question 6.
She is the smarter …………. the two.
Answer:
of

Question 7.
Shila insists …………. wearing that dress, although her mother thinks it is too short for her.
Answer:
on

Question 8.
The teacher complained …………. him when she met his father in the market.
Answer:
against

K. Fill in the blanks with appropriate words.

Question 1.
He congratulated me …………. my great achievement.
Answer:
on

Question 2.
The poor man is afflicted …………. arthoritis.

24
Answer:
with

Question 3.
She is blind …………. the faults of her husband.
Answer:
to

Question 4.
The boss had many complaints …………. Shyam.
Answer:
against

Question 5.
You must prepare …………. the examinations.
Answer:
for

Question 6.
She is not aware …………. the danger.
Answer:
of

Question 7.
Ravi was accurate …………. his calculations.
Answer:
with

Question 8.
They hid the money …………. the carpet.
Answer:
under

L. Fill in the blanks with appropriate words.

Question 1.
I refrained …………. telling Reeta the truth.
Answer:
from

Question 2.
The leader counted …………. the cooperation of his colleagues.
Answer:
on

Question 3.
The public was cautioned …………. pickpockets.
Answer:
against

25
Question 4.
Janaki escorted her daughter to the cinema theatre as she was anxious …………. her safety.
Answer:
about

Question 5.
The path was beset …………. difficulties yet they succeeded.
Answer:
with

Question 6.
The mouse crept stealthily …………. the cheese.
Answer:
towards

Question 7.
It was good …………. you to invite Sheila for the picnic.
Answer:
of

Question 8.
Smoking …………. public places is now banned.
Answer:
in

M. Fill in the blanks with appropriate words.

Question 1.
I prevailed …………. him to join the gymnasium.
Answer:
upon

Question 2.
The curious child eagerly begged …………. an answer to the riddle.
Answer:
for

Question 3.
He was bent …………. coming first in the examination.
Answer:
on/upon

Question 4.
The theory exam was followed …………. a group discussion.
Answer:
by

Question 5.
I ran …………. my teacher at the show last night.
Answer:
into

26
Question 6.
She is extremely anxious …………. the interview next week.
Answer:
about

Question 7.
What a contrast …………. the two siblings!
Answer:
between

Question 8.
The brother fought …………. their father’s property.
Answer:
over/for

N. Fill in the blanks with appropriate words.

Question 1.
The elderly man prepared himself for a life …………. retirement.
Answer:
after

Question 2.
Do you take his word …………. mine?
Answer:
over

Question 3.
Rohini is very concerned …………. her father’s health.
Answer:
about

Question 4.
Altaf had many books and papers scattered all …………. the room.
Answer:
over

Question 5.
The phoenix is a legendry bird that rises …………. its ashes.
Answer:
from

Question 6.
The police pulled the briefcase from …………. the table.
Answer:
under

Question 7.
The mob rushed onto the pavement, everyone seemed angry …………. everyone else.
Answer:
with

27
Question 8.
The old woman looked the cupboard, searching for …………. the photograph.
Answer:
inside/into

O. Fill in the blanks with appropriate words.

Question 1.
Truth always prevails …………. the long-run.
Answer:
in

Question 2.
Sujata stood …………. the river and saw the ship pass by.
Answer:
beside

Question 3.
She took some money …………. her father to buy a video game.
Answer:
from

Question 4.
Shilpa gave me a rare gift …………. my birthday.
Answer:
on

Question 5.
Deepak was very upset …………. me.
Answer:
with

Question 6.
Michelle is longing …………. meet me.
Answer:
to

Question 7.
It has been a long time …………. I met my sister.
Answer:
since

Question 8.
The worker asked …………. his wages.
Answer:
for

P. Fill in the blanks with appropriate words.

Question 1.
He refused to put …………. with their interference in his affairs.

28
Answer:
up

Question 2.
She has been going …………. the script for days.
Answer:
through

Question 3.
It is our duty to protest …………. injustice.
Answer:
against

Question 4.
He soon became accustomed …………. the harsh weather.
Answer:
to

Question 5.
Dilip went out …………. his way to help the poor.
Answer:
of

Question 6.
He was able to put …………. his ideas so cleverly that he impressed everyone.
Answer:
up

Question 7.
He persists …………. teasing the other children in the class.
Answer:
on

Question 8.
I have been waiting for you …………. four o’clock.
Answer:
since

Q. Fill in the blanks with appropriate words.

Question 1.
The safari parks of South Africa abound …………. wild animals.
Answer:
with

Question 2.
The young man excels …………. both music and dance.
Answer:
in

29
Question 3.
She is a diligent student, worthy …………. praise.
Answer:
of

Question 4.
I saw …………. his plan and realised that he was going to cheat us.
Answer:
through

Question 5.
I was …………. the impression that the meeting had been cancelled.
Answer:
under

Question 6.
Always be true …………. yourself.
Answer:
to

Question 7.
The villagers lodged a complaint the …………. corrupt officials.
Answer:
against

Question 8.
I can rely …………. my sister for help.
Answer:
on

R. Fill in the blanks with appropriate words.

Question 1.
There was a steep rise …………. onion prices.
Answer:
in

Question 2.
Air pollution is responsible for the spread …………. bronchitis.
Answer:
of

Question 3.
He was …………. pressure to complete the work.
Answer:
under

Question 4.
John jumped …………. the river to rescue the child.
Answer:
into

30
Question 5.
His teacher is very pleased …………. him.
Answer:
with

Question 6.
All took …………. his cap and wiped his face.
Answer:
off

Question 7.
The old woman could not get …………. the shock.
Answer:
away with

Question 8.
He should not get …………. with such rudeness.
Answer:
away

S. Fill in the blanks with the suitable prepositions.

Question 1.
What is he thinking ………….?
Answer:
of

Question 2.
Veer is fond …………. this dish.
Answer:
of

Question 3.
This is the house he lives ………….
Answer:
in

Question 4.
Everybody laughed …………. the joker.
Answer:
at

Question 5.
She promised me to meet …………. 2 pm.
Answer:
at

Question 6.
He left the city …………. Monday.
Answer:
on

31
Question 7.
My father will return from the village …………. a week.
Answer:
within

Question 8.
She hid herself …………. the curtains.
Answer:
behind

T. Fill in each blank with an appropriate word.

Question 1.
She shouted angrily …………. the disobedient boy.
Answer:
at

Question 2.
I asked them to provide us …………. a guide.
Answer:
with

Question 3.
The tree grew at a dangerous slant and had to be cut ………….
Answer:
down

Question 4.
My daughter believes …………. fairies.
Answer:
in

Question 5.
He drew a beautiful diagram …………. the board.
Answer:
on

Question 6.
She battled her way …………. the crowd.
Answer:
against

Question 7.
We were asked to gather …………. the teacher.
Answer:
near

Question 8.
They had to climb …………. the steep pathway to reach the top.
Answer:
up

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 Indirect Narration

We use a 'reporting verb' like 'say' or 'tell' If this verb is in the present tense, it's easy. We just put 'she says'
and then the sentence:

• Direct speech: I like ice cream.

• Reported speech: She says (that) she likes ice cream.

We don't need to change the tense, though probably we do need to change the 'person' from 'I' to 'she', for
example. We also may need to change words like 'my' and 'your'.

(As I'm sure you know, often, we can choose if we want to use 'that' or not in English. I've put it in brackets ()
to show that it's optional. It's exactly the same if you use 'that' or if you don't use 'that'.)

But, if the reporting verb is in the past tense, then usually we change the tenses in the reported speech:

• Direct speech: I like ice cream.

• Reported speech: She said (that) she liked ice cream.

Tense Direct Speech Reported Speech

present simple I like ice cream She said (that) she liked ice cream.
present
I am living in London She said (that) she was living in London.
continuous
She said (that) she had bought a car OR She said (that) she
past simple I bought a car
bought a car.
I was walking along the
past continuous She said (that) she had been walking along the street.
street
present perfect I haven't seen Julie She said (that) she hadn't seen Julie.
I had taken English
past perfect* She said (that) she had taken English lessons before.
lessons before
will I'll see you later She said (that) she would see me later.
would* I would help, but..” She said (that) she would help but...
I can speak perfect
can She said (that) she could speak perfect English.
English
I could swim when I was
could* She said (that) she could swim when she was four.
four
shall I shall come later She said (that) she would come later.
should* I should call my mother She said (that) she should call her mother
might* I might be late She said (that) she might be late

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 I must study at the She said (that) she must study at the weekend OR She said she
must
weekend had to study at the weekend

* doesn't change.

Occasionally, we don't need to change the present tense into the past if the information in direct speech is still
true (but this is only for things which are general facts, and even then usually we like to change the tense):

• Direct speech: The sky is blue.

• Reported speech: She said (that) the sky is/was blue.

Reported Questions

So now you have no problem with making reported speech from positive and negative sentences. But how
about questions?

• Direct speech: Where do you live?

How can we make the reported speech here?

In fact, it's not so different from reported statements. The tense changes are the same, and we keep the
question word. The very important thing though is that, once we tell the question to someone else, it isn't a
question any more. So we need to change the grammar to a normal positive sentence. A bit confusing? Maybe
this example will help:

• Direct speech: Where do you live?

• Reported speech: She asked me where I lived.

Do you see how I made it? The direct question is in the present simple tense. We make a present simple
question with 'do' or 'does' so I need to take that away. Then I need to change the verb to the past simple.

Another example:

• Direct speech: Where is Julie?

• Reported speech: She asked me where Julie was.

The direct question is the present simple of 'be'. We make the question form of the present simple of be by
inverting (changing the position of)the subject and verb. So, we need to change them back before putting the
verb into the past simple.
Here are some more examples:

Direct Question Reported Question

Where is the Post Office, please? She asked me where the Post Office was.
What are you doing? She asked me what I was doing.
Who was that fantastic man? She asked me who that fantastic man had been.

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 So much for 'wh' questions. But, what if you need to report a 'yes / no' question? We don't have any question
words to help us. Instead, we use 'if':

• Direct speech: Do you like chocolate?

• Reported speech: She asked me if I liked chocolate.

No problem? Here are a few more examples:

Direct Question Reported Question

Do you love me? He asked me if I loved him.
Have you ever been to Mexico? She asked me if I had ever been to Mexico.
Are you living here? She asked me if I was living here.

Reported Requests

There's more! What if someone asks you to do something (in a polite way)? For example:

• Direct speech: Close the window, please

• Or: Could you close the window please?
• Or: Would you mind closing the window please?

All of these requests mean the same thing, so we don't need to report every word when we tell another person
about it. We simply use 'ask me + to + infinitive':

• Reported speech: She asked me to close the window.

Here are a few more examples:

Direct Request Reported Request

Please help me. She asked me to help her.
Please don't smoke. She asked me not to smoke.
Could you bring my book tonight? She asked me to bring her book that night.
Could you pass the milk, please? She asked me to pass the milk.
Would you mind coming early tomorrow? She asked me to come early the next day.
To report a negative request, use 'not':

• Direct speech: Please don't be late.

• Reported speech: She asked us not to be late.

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 Reported Orders

And finally, how about if someone doesn't ask so politely? We can call this an 'order' in English, when
someone tells you very directly to do something. For example:

• Direct speech: Sit down!

In fact, we make this into reported speech in the same way as a request. We just use 'tell' instead of 'ask':

• Reported speech: She told me to sit down.

Direct Order Reported Order

Go to bed! He told the child to go to bed.
Don't worry! He told her not to worry.
Be on time! He told me to be on time.
Don't smoke! He told us not to smoke.
Time Expressions with Reported Speech

Sometimes when we change direct speech into reported speech we have to change time expressions too. We
don't always have to do this, however. It depends on when we heard the direct speech and when we say the
reported speech.

For example:

It's Monday. Julie says "I'm leaving today".

If I tell someone on Monday, I say "Julie said she was leaving today".
If I tell someone on Tuesday, I say "Julie said she was leaving yesterday".
If I tell someone on Wednesday, I say "Julie said she was leaving on Monday".
If I tell someone a month later, I say "Julie said she was leaving that day".

So, there's no easy conversion. You really have to think about when the direct speech was said.

Here's a table of some possible conversions:

now then / at that time

today yesterday / that day / Tuesday / the 27th of June
the day before yesterday / the day before / Wednesday / the 5th of
yesterday
December

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last night the night before, Thursday night

last week the week before / the previous week

tomorrow today / the next day / the following day / Friday

Imperative sentences are those which contain the sense of Request, Command, etc and always begin with the
main verb.
Examples:

• I said to him, “Please, go to the market.”

Rules for Simple Imperative Statements:

• The Reporting verb will be changed as per the sense contained in the Reported Speech.
• If there is the sense of Request, we will change said to into – requested
• If there is the sense of Order – said to into – ordered
• If the sense is not clear, then we shall convert said into – told or asked etc.
• I requested him ….

Inverted commas are replaced by ‘to’. ,

• I requested him to …

The rest of the reported speech will come as it is.

• I requested him to go to the market.

More Examples:

• Direct: He said to me, “Help him in settling the accounts”.

Indirect: He requested me to help him in settling the accounts.
• Direct: My friend said to me, “Please accept this invitation”.
Indirect: My friend entreated me to accept that invitation.
• Direct: The doctor said to the patient, “Give up smoking”.
Indirect: The doctor advised the patient to give up smoking.
• Direct: The Commander said to his men, “March further”.
Indirect: The Commander urged his men to march further.

Rules for Negative Imperative

Rules are almost same as in the Imperative except ‘not’ which we insert in the negative imperative before ‘to’
while replacing inverted commas.
Examples:

• I said to him, “Don’t open the door, please.”

• I requested him not to open the door.

We also use forbade while replacing said to when there is the sense other than request/advice etc. Forbade is
itself a negative word. It will not take the word not after it.
More Examples:

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 • Direct: The old man said to the boys, “Please do not disturb me.”
Indirect: The old man requested the boys not to disturb him.
• Direct: The shopkeeper said to the customer, “Please do not eat raw and overripe fruit.”
Indirect – The shopkeeper requested the customer not to eat raw and overripe fruit.
• Direct – The host said to the guests, “Please do not stand on any ceremony.”
Indirect – The host requested the guests not to stand on any ceremony.

Rules for ‘Let Us’ Imperative statements

If the reported speech starts with the words ‘Let us’ the words ‘said to’ in the reporting speech are changed
into ‘proposed to’ or ‘suggested to’.

Comma and inverted commas are replaced by the word ‘that’.

The words ‘Let us’ are replaced with the words ‘we should or they should’ according to subject and object in
the reporting speech.

If either of subject or object in reporting speech is first person, the words ‘we should’ are used or if these are
in third person, the words ‘they should’ are used.

Examples:

• Direct: She said to me, “Let us go out for a picnic.”

Indirect: She proposed to me that we should go out for a picnic.
• Direct: He said to his wife, “Let us go for shopping.”
Indirect: He suggested to his wife that they should go for shopping.
• Direct: He said to them,” Let us not quarrel with each other.”
Indirect: He suggested to them that they should not quarrel with each other.

The doctor advised the patient to give u smoking. He advise that continuous smoking was bad for health am

The doctor advised the patient to give up smoking. He advised hat continuous smoking as bad for health and
caused cancer.

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The doctor forbade the patient to smoke as it was the biggest risk factor for all the heart diseases. He ordered
the patient to quit smoking.

He suggested that he should eat healthy snacks when craving hits. He also proposed that he should switch to
herbal tea.

Answer the following questions.

1. What did the doctor advise to do?
2. What did the doctor forbid?
3. What did the doctor order to the patient?
4. What did the doctor suggest to do?

Reported Imperative Exercises

A. Change the following direct imperative sentences into indirect sentences. The first one has been done
for you.

1. Direct: The old woman said to the boy, “Please help me.”
Indirect: The old woman is requested the boy to help her.

2. Direct: I said to him, “Love and obey your parents.”

Indirect: ________________________
3. Direct: The teacher said to the students, “Work hard.”
Indirect: ________________________
4. Direct: Mahesh said to me, “Please lend me your pen.”
Indirect: ________________________
5. Direct: The doctor said to the patient, “Quit smoking.”
Indirect: ________________________
6. Direct: The officer said to the clerk, “Do this work immediately.”
Indirect: ________________________
7. Direct: The teacher said to the boy, “Come in, please.”
Indirect: ________________________
8. Direct: He said to me, “Post this letter at once.”
Indirect: ________________________
9. Direct: I said to the children, “Do not make any noise.”

39
Indirect: ________________________
10. Direct: I said to her, “Don’t mention my name.”
Indirect: ________________________
11. Direct: I said to the child, “Do not look down into the well.”
Indirect: ________________________
12. Direct: He said to me, “Wait here till I return.”
Indirect: ________________________

B. Convert the following sentences from direct to indirect speech (reported speech).

1. Mother to daughter: “Put on your shoes.”

________________________
2. The teacher to me: “Open your notebook.”
________________________
3. Maya to her uncle: “Don’t be mad at me.”
________________________
4. Coach to Rohit: “Get on your feet!”
________________________
5. The cashier to Anu: “Give me your receipt.”
________________________
6. Anand to his mother: “Help me with my homework.”
________________________
7. The officer to us: “Do not park here.”
________________________
8. The ambulance driver to pedestrians: ” Move out of the way!”
________________________
9. Deapak to his mother: “Wait for me.”
________________________
10. Pooja to her husband: “Stop acting like a child.”
________________________

C. Change the following direct imperative sentences Into indirect speech.

1. Anushka said to Om, “Let us go to watch a movie.”

2. Manjula said to me, “Let us play carom today”.
3. He said, “Let us wait a few minutes and try again later”.
4. Party workers said to the leader, “Let us do some favour to our supporters”.

D. Complete the sentences such that they are in Reported Speech.

1. Kiran: “Don’t play football in the garden!”

Kiran told me ________________________
2. Teacher: “Don’t forget to complete your homework!”
The teacher reminded me ________________________
3. Mohan: “Don’t shout at Pradip!”
Mohan told me ________________________
4. Amit: “Don’t talk to your neighbour!”
Amit told me ________________________
5. Danish: “Don’t open the door!”
Danish told me ________________________
6. Mayank: “Don’t sing that song!”

40
Mayank reminded me ________________________
7. Julie: “Don’t watch the new film!”
Juiie advised me ________________________
8. Sonu: “Don’t ring Monu on Sunday!”
Sonu told me ________________________
10. Jyoti: “Don’t eat too much junk food!”
Jyoti reminded me ________________________

➢ Exclamatory sentences express a sudden outburst of some emotions such as joy, sorrow,
contempt, regret, surprise etc. Common explanatory phrases are given below:

Hurrah! Ha! (Express joy)

Alas! Oh! (Express sorrow, regret, or loss)
Bravo! (Express Applause)
What! Oh! How! (Express surprise)
Pooh! Pshaw! (Express contempt)

An exclamatory sentence has a sign of exclamation after it which changes into a full stop in the
indirect speech.

In indirect speech, the exclamatory phrase or word (interjection) is replaced by ‘exclaimed with joy,
sorrow, regret, surprise, contempt etc.’

The connective that has to be supplied in the indirect speech.

Examples are given below:

Direct: The boy said, ‘Hurrah! We have won the match.’

Indirect: The boy exclaimed with joy that they had won the match.
Direct: The old man said, ‘A las! I have lost my purse.’
Indirect: The old man exclaimed with sorrow that he had lost his purse.
Direct: The child said, ‘What a beautiful sight!’
Indirect: The child exclaimed with delight that it was a very beautiful sight. OR The child exclaimed
with delight that the sight was very beautiful.
Direct: The girl said, ‘How beautiful the girl is!’
Indirect: The girl exclaimed with delight that the rainbow was very beautiful.
Direct: The candidate said, ‘How difficult the problem is!’
Indirect: The candida te exclaimed with disapproval that the problem was very difficult.
Direct: The students said to the teacher, ‘Good morning, Teacher!’
Indirect: The students respectfully wished their teacher good morning.
Direct: ‘How glad I am,’ said Alice, ‘to meet my f riend here.’
Indirect: Alice exclaimed with delight that she was very glad to meet her friend there.
Direct: The Emperor said, ‘Alas! Our foes are too strong!’
Indirect: The Emperor exclaimed with sorrow that their foes were too strong.
Direct: ‘Hurrah!’ c ried the boy, ‘I have won a prize.’
Indirect: The boy exclaimed with delight he had done a prize.

➢ Direct and Indirect Speech Optative Sentences Exercises

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 1. My mother said, “May God bless you!”
2. Bharat said to me, “May you have a happy journey!”
3. The saint said to the woman, “May God bless you with a son!”
4. He said, “May you succeed in your life, my friend!”
5. The old man shouted, “Go to hell”
6. The students said to their teacher, “Good morning Ma’am!”
7. Mohan said to Ramesh, “Happy Diwali!”
8. The hermit said, “May God make the people of this city live here happily !”
9. He said, “May you never get peace!”
10. The son said, “Sweet dreams, Mom !”
Exercise of direct and indirect speech
1. My mother wished that God might bless me.
2. Bharat wished me that I might have a happy journey.
3. The saint wished the women that God might bless me with a son.
4. He wished his friend that he might succeed in his life.
5. The old man cursed that he/I might go to hell. Or The old man cursed him/me to go to hell.
6. The students wished their teacher good morning.
7. Mohan wished Ramesh happy Diwali.
8. The hermit wished that God might make the people of that city live there happily.
9. He cursed that he/I might never get peace.
10. The son wished mom sweet dreams.

A prefix is a letter or set of letters added to the beginning of a word.

A suffix is a letter or set of letters added to the end of a word.

Prefix and Suffix list:

Prefix Examples

a aseptic, asymmetrical

anti antibiotic, antifreeze

ab abnormal, absent

auto automatic, automobile

bene beneficial, benefit

Prefix Examples

42
bi bicycle, bicentennial

bio biology, biosphere

Prefix Examples

cent century, centurion

centi centimeter

circum circumference

co cooperate, coordinate

com compassion, combine

con connect

contra contradict

Prefix Examples

deci decimetre

deca decagon

dia diagonal, diameter

dis dislocate, dismantle

Prefix Examples

eco ecology, ecosystem

43
equi equilateral, equilibrium

ex ex-wife, ex-president

Prefix Examples

hemi hemisphere

hyper hyperactive

Prefix Examples

im impossible

in incorrect

ir irresistible

inter interstate, international

Prefix Examples

magni magnify, magnificent

mega megaphone

micro microscope

mid midway, middle

mini miniskirt

mis misspell, misunderstand

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mono monotheistic, monologue

multi multinational

Prefix Examples

non nonconformist, nonentity

Prefix Examples

over overrun

Prefix Examples

pan pan-american

para parallel, parachute

penta pentagon

per perfect, pervade

poly polygon

port portage

post postpone, postgraduate

pre prepare, predict

pro progress, propel, profess

Prefix Examples

45
 quad quadrilateral

Prefix Examples

re reconsider

Prefix Examples

semi semidetached semiprivate

sub submarine, submerge

super superman, supernatural

Points to be Remebered While Writing Dialogue

As a part of writing shills, students will be expected to fill in the blanks and complete the dialogue. Guidelines
for writing dialogues

1. The students need to read the preceding and the following dialogues.
2. They must understand the topic being discussed.

3. Tense of the dialogue should be used according to the situation.

4. It should appear to be natural.
5. The words used should be to the point so that they convey the idea clearly.
Dialogue between a shopkeeper and a customer
Customer : What is the rate of Kaju Katari?
Shopkeeper : Rs. 600 per kg, sir
Customer : Pack half a kg for me.
Shopkeeper : In a minute, sir
Customer : But you have weighed less than half a kg.
Shopkeeper : Don’t worry sir, you’ll have less weight to carry.
Customer : Oh! Thank you for a good piece of advice.
Shopkeeper : Well, I am here to do good to my customers, sir.
Customer : Here’s your money.
Shopkeeper : But, it’s less money, sir.
Customer : Don’t worry, you’ll have to count less money.
Shopkeeper : But, that’s not fair.
Customer : I’m simply following your advice, sir.

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Question 1:
Rohit calls up Rajat to make a plan for the weekend. Complete the dialogue between Rohit and Rajat by
filling in the gaps.

Rohit : (i) ………………….. this weekend?

Rajat : I don’t have any special plan.
Rohit : How do you like the idea (ii) …………………. the zoo?
Rajat : That sounds good, But I (iii) ………………….my parent’s permission.

Rohit : I’ll come to your house this evening and request your parents to allow you to join me
to see the zoo.
Rajat : Ok.
Rohit : (iv) …………………….. in the evening?
Rajat : Yes. They will be at home.
Rohit : Then I’ll surely come.
Answer:

(i) What are you doing

(ii) of going to
(iii) need to take
(iv) Will they be at home

Question 2:
Sarita is being interviewed for the job of a teacher in a school. Complete the dialogue by filling in the gaps.

Interviewer : Why do you think you (i)…………………………….. ?

Sarita : Mam, I am qualified for the job and I have a passion for children and
teaching. All these traits make me suitable for the job.
Interviewer : Can (ii)……………………..any foreign language?
Sarita : Yes, I can speak and write German.
Interviewer : What (iii)………………………. in graduation?
Sarita : Mam, I have graduated in Chemistry Honours.
Interviewer : Do you (iv)……………………… experience?
Sarita : Yes, I have teaching experience of 5 years in a public school.
Interviewer : Well, then we may consider you for the job.

Answer:

(i) are suitable for the job (ii) you speak (iii) were you subjects (iv) have any teaching

Question 3:
Dialogue between two friends on the topic of air pollution.

Neeta : friends on the topic of air pollution.

Vibha : Vibha, why are you (i)…………………….. eyes?
Neeta : I feel acute irritation in them.
Vibha : What is the reason?
Neeta : It is due to (ii)…………………….
Vibha : Oh yes, the air is full of fumes.

47
Neeta : These fumes have (iii)…………………….
Vibha : Yes , it has sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide. I forgot to bring my sunglasses today.
Neeta : How would sunglasses help?
Vibha : They shield (iv)…………………….
Neeta : Then, I’ll also wear mine from tomorrow.
Vibha : Yes, you must.

Answer:

(i) rubbing your eyes (ii) air pollution (iii) poisonous gases (iv) the eyes from harmful gases

Question 4:
Read the conversation between two friends and complete the dialogue in a suitable way.

Shruti : Did you visit the book fair in Pragati Maidan?

Arushi : No. Did you?
Shruti : Yes, (i) …………………….
Arushi : Did you buy any books?
Shruti : Yes, (ii) …………………….
Arushi : Well, what sort of science fiction books did you buy?
Shruti : Stories about space and unidentified flying objects.
Arushi : Were (iii)…………………….?
Shruti : Yes, books of all the subjects were available there.
Arushi : Do you have any idea (iv)……………………. ?
Shruti : I guess it will go on till 30th of this month.
Arushi : Then I’ll definitely go there and buy some good books.

Answer:

(i) I did
(ii) I bought books of Science Fiction
(iii) there books of all the subjects
(iv) what is the last date of the fair

48